We truly love our community on social media—but sometimes, social media can also be incredibly hard to navigate.
It has become far too easy for people to loudly broadcast their beliefs without accountability, often just trying to be the loudest voice in the room. We see hypocrisy and ignorance masked as “education.” We see people publicly shamed, their dignity stripped away in the name of cancel culture. And it can feel overwhelming to witness, especially when it touches something deeply personal.
The other day, an able-bodied person sent me a DM telling me I was incorrect for using the word disabled to describe Callie. She insisted I needed to “do my research” and do better with my platform.
Mind you—this is the term my daughter chose to use.
Mind you—this is our platform.
Mind you—her opinion is not our truth.
And most importantly, no matter her intent, my daughter’s lived experience and voice as a disabled person will always outweigh that of someone who is able-bodied.
So, in the spirit of National Limb Loss and Limb Difference Month, we are sharing this story.
We share it in hopes of continuing to uplift and amplify the voices of those with limb loss within the disabled community. And while I do my best as Callie’s mama to tell her story, I know that one day her voice will be far more powerful than anything I could ever say for her.
Her voice matters.
Her story matters.
Her experiences matter.
We have to stop talking over the disabled community and start truly listening to them.
I also hope we can all pause and reflect on the intent behind our interactions on social media. I love seeing comments like, “Tell me more,” “What’s your perspective?” or “Where can I learn more about this?” Those words show curiosity, empathy, and a genuine willingness to grow.
Telling someone to “go educate themselves” about a life they already live? That’s something else entirely.
As an advocate, you will never hear those words come from me—because that’s why I’m here. I’m here to offer a glimpse into our world, our lives, and our experiences so you can learn directly from us. I consider that an honor, and as Callie’s mama, I’m grateful for the privilege of walking this path alongside her.
I’m not an expert, and I’ll never pretend to be. But I will continue to open our hearts, share our truth, and lift up voices like Callie’s.
Thank you for being here.
